# US 9,521,343 B2 · Solid state imaging device having bias line providing fixing potential

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- Number: US 9,521,343 B2
- Document ID: US9521343B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/852,787
- Filed: 2013-03-28
- Published: 2014-01-02
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2003-04-18
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Applicants: Sony Corporation
- Inventors: Keiji Mabuchi; Eiichi Funatsu; Masanori Kasai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521343B2

## CPC

- H04N 25/709: Circuitry for control of the power supply
- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- H04N 25/59: by controlling the amount of charge storable in the pixel, e.g. modification of the charge conversion ratio of the floating node capacitance
- H04N 25/671: for non-uniformity detection or correction
- H04N 25/673: by using reference sources
- H04N 25/713: Transfer or readout registers; Split readout registers or multiple readout registers
- H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
- H04N 25/779: Circuitry for scanning or addressing the pixel array
- H04N 25/7795: {Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals}
- H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A CMOS sensor has unit pixels each structured by a light receiving element and three transistors, to prevent against the phenomenon of saturation shading and the reduction of dynamic range. The transition time (fall time), in switching off the voltage on a drain line shared in all pixels, is given longer than the transition time in turning of any of the reset line and the transfer line. For this reason, the transistor constituting a DRN drive buffer is made proper in its W/L ratio. Meanwhile, a control resistance or current source is inserted on a line to the GND, to make proper the operation current during driving. This reduces saturation shading amount. By making a reset transistor in a depression type, the leak current to a floating diffusion is suppressed to broaden the dynamic range.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solid-state imaging device comprising:
a multiplicity of pixels connected to a signal line,
wherein in one of the pixels:
a photoelectric converter element is configured to convert light into a signal charge,
a read select transistor is controllable to provide an electrical connection and disconnection between the charge generating section and an amplifier transistor,
the amplifier transistor is controllable to provide an electrical connection and disconnection between a drain line and the signal line,
a bias line is in parallel with the signal line, and
a contact electrically connects a well to the bias line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the well is a P-well.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the bias line is configured to provide a voltage potential to the well.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric converter element is a photodiode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the drain line is electrically connected to the multiplicity of the pixels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a floating diffusion is situated between the read select transistor and the amplifier transistor, the floating diffusion is configured to store the signal charge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6, wherein the read select transistor is controllable to provide an electrical connection and disconnection between the charge generating section and the floating diffusion, the floating diffusion is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the amplifier transistor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6, wherein a reset transistor is controllable to provide an electrical connection and disconnection between the drain line and the floating diffusion.